Disney, Zemeckis, and Apple Corps Come Together for ‘Yellow Submarine’ Adaptation

It’s days like today that I both love and dread where it’s nearly impossible to keep up with all the new bits of news spilling into my inbox.   This just in from D23 Expo, Disney, Robert Zemeckis, and Apple Corps are coming together for a 3D, motion capture adaptation of the 1968 animated film ‘Yellow Submarine.’   Zemeckis will be writing and directing the new adaptation with performance capture being handled by ImageMovers Digital.   Zemeckis will be including all 16 Beatles songs from the original film including “All You Need is Love,” “Eleanor Rigby,” and “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”

Said Disney chairman Dick Cook about the announcement:

This is truly an inspired collaboration, and a wonderful opportunity to revisit one of the most imaginative and memorable musical fantasies of all time.  To be working with the amazing folks at Apple Corps, and to have Bob helming the sub is truly as good as it gets.  With all those incredible Beatles songs and imagery, the spectacular vision of Bob and his pioneering team at ImageMovers Digital, and a classic adventure full of wit and action, we’re sure that moviegoers are going to have a great time on this latest trip to Pepperland.

Zemeckis has this to say at the Expo:

’Yellow Submarine’ is one of the  greatest fantasy films of all time, and making this new 3D performance capture  movie is a dream come true for me.  With the latest advances in technology, we will be able to take moviegoers on a voyage unlike any other, and bring new excitement and dimension to Pepperland and the various sea worlds they encounter. I’m thrilled to be working with the good folks at Apple Corps and our partners at Disney on this epic retelling of one of my all time favorite films.

Jeff Jones, CEO of Apple Corps LTD added this:

With The Beatles and Walt Disney Studios, we have a partnership between two of the best loved creative entities in the world.  We’re very excited about the magical fantasy that will result from this collaboration.  The marriage of the music of The Beatles with the talent and technical wizardry of Robert Zemeckis and ImageMovers Digital should produce something very special.  We look forward to working with Bob and his team on realising his new vision for ‘Yellow Submarine’.

Along with the press release for the new film was this synopsis of the original, 1968 feature directed by George Dunning:

The original motion picture (released in the U.S. on November 13, 1968) based on the music of The Beatles was directed by George Dunning and featured the inspired art direction and design of Heinz Edelmann. The movie is set in Pepperland, an undersea paradise inhabited by music lovers who live in peace and harmony and are protected by Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. That is…until they are threatened by the music hating Blue Meanies.    It’s up to John, Paul, George and Ringo to set off on a magical adventure in their yellow submarine and bring music and harmony back to Pepperland.